[The Genus Holodiscus East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Creambush Ocean Spray, Ocean-spray, Indian Arrowwood

Holodiscus discolor

Synonyms: Holodiscus boursieri, Holodiscus discolor ssp. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. delnortensis, Holodiscus discolor var. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. glabrescens, Holodiscus dumosus ssp. saxicola, Holodiscus dumosus var. australis, Holodiscus dumosus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. sericeus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. typicus, Schizonotus aariaefolius var. discolor, Schizonotus argenteus var. ariaefolius, Schizonotus argenteus var. discolor, Schizonotus discolor, Sericotheca discolor, Sericotheca discolor var. purshianus, Spiraea ariaefolia, Spiraea discolor, Spiraea discolor var. ariaefolia

Inflorescence of Ocean Spray, Ocean-spray, Creambush Ocean-spray, Indian Arrowwood: Holodiscus discolor (Synonyms: Holodiscus boursieri, Holodiscus discolor ssp. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. delnortensis, Holodiscus discolor var. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. glabrescens, Holodiscus dumosus ssp. saxicola, Holodiscus dumosus var. australis, Holodiscus dumosus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. sericeus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. typicus, Schizonotus aariaefolius var. discolor, Schizonotus argenteus var. ariaefolius, Schizonotus argenteus var. discolor, Schizonotus discolor, Sericotheca discolor, Sericotheca discolor var. purshianus, Spiraea ariaefolia, Spiraea discolor, Spiraea discolor var. ariaefolia) - Ocean Spray, Ocean-spray, Creambush Ocean-spray, Indian Arrowwood: Holodiscus discolor (Synonyms: Holodiscus boursieri, Holodiscus discolor ssp. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. delnortensis, Holodiscus discolor var. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. glabrescens, Holodiscus dumosus ssp. saxicola, Holodiscus dumosus var. australis, Holodiscus dumosus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. sericeus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. typicus, Schizonotus aariaefolius var. discolor, Schizonotus argenteus var. ariaefolius, Schizonotus argenteus var. discolor, Schizonotus discolor, Sericotheca discolor, Sericotheca discolor var. purshianus, Spiraea ariaefolia, Spiraea discolor, Spiraea discolor var. ariaefolia)

Ocean spray seen at left from the Chief Joseph Trail, Wallowa-Whitman N.F......July 27, 1997. The photo at right shows the pendant inflorescences of ocean spray as seen near the Little Spokane River north of Spokane, Washington.......June 28, 2021.
Characteristics:

Ocean spray is an attractive shrub with many erect or spreading stems and numerous sprays of pendant flowers. It is well suited for use in the woodland garden. The stems arise 1-3 meters in height, and the branches are slender, angled, and often arching. The bark is a deep grayish-red. The leaves alternate on the stems. The petioles are 10-15 mm long and the blades are 3-10 cm long. The blades are ovate to ovate-lanceolate with a rounded base and 15-25 shallow lobes which are coarsely toothed.

The numerous flowers are found in diffuse, many-branched panicles from 10-17 cm long. The flowers are each about 5 mm wide, the petals barely exceeding the sepals. The petals are white or cream colored.

Importance:  

Native Americans used the straight hardwood of the branches for arrow shafts, and the fruits were also eaten. The leaves and stems are heavily browsed on winter ranges. Ocean spray may also be used as an ornamental native shrub.

Habitat:

Ocean spray is found on gravelly or rocky soils from coastal bluffs to open to moist upland forests.

Range:

Ocean spray may be found west of the Cascade Mountains from British Columbia south to southern California. It may be found east to western Montana, northern Idaho, and northeastern Oregon.

Dorsal leaf surface of Ocean Spray, Ocean-spray, Creambush Ocean-spray, Indian Arrowwood: Holodiscus discolor (Synonyms: Holodiscus boursieri, Holodiscus discolor ssp. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. delnortensis, Holodiscus discolor var. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. glabrescens, Holodiscus dumosus ssp. saxicola, Holodiscus dumosus var. australis, Holodiscus dumosus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. sericeus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. typicus, Schizonotus aariaefolius var. discolor, Schizonotus argenteus var. ariaefolius, Schizonotus argenteus var. discolor, Schizonotus discolor, Sericotheca discolor, Sericotheca discolor var. purshianus, Spiraea ariaefolia, Spiraea discolor, Spiraea discolor var. ariaefolia) - Ventral leaf surface of Ocean Spray, Ocean-spray, Creambush Ocean-spray, Indian Arrowwood: Holodiscus discolor (Synonyms: Holodiscus boursieri, Holodiscus discolor ssp. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. delnortensis, Holodiscus discolor var. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. glabrescens, Holodiscus dumosus ssp. saxicola, Holodiscus dumosus var. australis, Holodiscus dumosus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. sericeus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. typicus, Schizonotus aariaefolius var. discolor, Schizonotus argenteus var. ariaefolius, Schizonotus argenteus var. discolor, Schizonotus discolor, Sericotheca discolor, Sericotheca discolor var. purshianus, Spiraea ariaefolia, Spiraea discolor, Spiraea discolor var. ariaefolia)

Ocean Spray, Ocean-spray, Creambush Ocean-spray, Indian Arrowwood: Holodiscus discolor (Synonyms: Holodiscus boursieri, Holodiscus discolor ssp. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. delnortensis, Holodiscus discolor var. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. glabrescens, Holodiscus dumosus ssp. saxicola, Holodiscus dumosus var. australis, Holodiscus dumosus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. sericeus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. typicus, Schizonotus aariaefolius var. discolor, Schizonotus argenteus var. ariaefolius, Schizonotus argenteus var. discolor, Schizonotus discolor, Sericotheca discolor, Sericotheca discolor var. purshianus, Spiraea ariaefolia, Spiraea discolor, Spiraea discolor var. ariaefolia)

Ocean spray blooming along the valley trail about three-quarters of a mile northwest of the Painted Rocks trailhead, Little Spokane River Natural Area........July 5, 2011.

Ocean Spray, Ocean-spray, Creambush Ocean-spray, Indian Arrowwood: Holodiscus discolor (Synonyms: Holodiscus boursieri, Holodiscus discolor ssp. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. delnortensis, Holodiscus discolor var. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. glabrescens, Holodiscus dumosus ssp. saxicola, Holodiscus dumosus var. australis, Holodiscus dumosus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. sericeus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. typicus, Schizonotus aariaefolius var. discolor, Schizonotus argenteus var. ariaefolius, Schizonotus argenteus var. discolor, Schizonotus discolor, Sericotheca discolor, Sericotheca discolor var. purshianus, Spiraea ariaefolia, Spiraea discolor, Spiraea discolor var. ariaefolia) - Ocean Spray, Ocean-spray, Creambush Ocean-spray, Indian Arrowwood: Holodiscus discolor (Synonyms: Holodiscus boursieri, Holodiscus discolor ssp. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. delnortensis, Holodiscus discolor var. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. glabrescens, Holodiscus dumosus ssp. saxicola, Holodiscus dumosus var. australis, Holodiscus dumosus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. sericeus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. typicus, Schizonotus aariaefolius var. discolor, Schizonotus argenteus var. ariaefolius, Schizonotus argenteus var. discolor, Schizonotus discolor, Sericotheca discolor, Sericotheca discolor var. purshianus, Spiraea ariaefolia, Spiraea discolor, Spiraea discolor var. ariaefolia)

Examples of ocean spray as seen along the Umatilla Rim Trail at the northwestern shoulder of High Ridge, Umatilla National Forest........July 24, 2012.

Ocean Spray, Ocean-spray, Creambush Ocean-spray, Indian Arrowwood: Holodiscus discolor (Synonyms: Holodiscus boursieri, Holodiscus discolor ssp. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. delnortensis, Holodiscus discolor var. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. glabrescens, Holodiscus dumosus ssp. saxicola, Holodiscus dumosus var. australis, Holodiscus dumosus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. sericeus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. typicus, Schizonotus aariaefolius var. discolor, Schizonotus argenteus var. ariaefolius, Schizonotus argenteus var. discolor, Schizonotus discolor, Sericotheca discolor, Sericotheca discolor var. purshianus, Spiraea ariaefolia, Spiraea discolor, Spiraea discolor var. ariaefolia)

Oceanspray in bud along FS Road 9500-705 about one mile north of Renner Lake, Colville National Forest.........June 25, 2016.
Paul Slichter